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SERIES II. 



BULLETIN No. 20 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 

NEBRASKA BOYS AND 
GIRLS CLUB 



SELECTING, SCORING AND 

STORING SEED CORN AND 

POTATOES 



THE NEBRASKA CORN HUSKING 
CONTEST 



Issued Jointly by 



DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC 
INSTRUCTION 

LINCOLN 



DEPARTMENT OF FARMERS' 
INSTITUTES 

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. 
LINCOLN 



October. 1910 



Monograph 



INTRODUCTION. 

This bulletin is one of the series published jointly by 
the State Department of Public Instruction and the Depart- 
ment of Farmers' Institutes, University of Nebraska, for the 
encouragement of the work of the Nebraska boys' and girls' 
club. The subject matter was written and compiled by A. E. 
Nelson. This is the last of the special bulletins for members 
of the Home Experiment Department and is sent to all mem- 
bers enrolled for any of the work in agriculture. It contains 
much of interest to others. 

Each member is asked to read over carefully the entire 
bulletin and to as carefully follow the directions. We receive 
numerous letters from members in various departments ask- 
ing questions which are answered in the bulletin, but the 
member has failed to read carefully enough to get the informa- 
tion. 

The next bulletin for the Nebraska boys' and girls' club 
members will be a general bulletin sent to both boys and 
girls. It will tell about the state meeting and corn show to 
be held at Lincoln, January 16-20 ; it will explain the short 
courses open to members and give other information which 
will be of interest. 

Each member of the Home Experiment Department is 
invited to take an active part in all work of a similar nature 
in his respective county. We believe that members of this 
department represent the most ambitious young people in 
each county and shall expect good things from them in school 
district and county contests. 

. If any members have been unfortunate this year in being- 
unable to complete their work, or results have been unsatis- 
factory, we trust that such members will have the necessary 
amount of determination to profit by their failures and to 
prepare for better things next year by learning all they can 
about methods of procedure and how to avoid mistakes in 
their work. 

We continue to receive the co-operation of many people 
and organizations in the work of our boys' and girls' clubs. 
This bulletin is printed for us by The Twentieth Century 
Farmer as an evidence of their interest in and appreciation 
of the work of the boys' and girls' club in Nebraska. We ap- 
preciate the kind words they say for us and are especially 



J ^v 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 






grateful for their financial assistance in printing this bulletin. 
Any members who for any reason have failed to report 
how they are getting along with their work this year are 
requested to make a final report after receiving this bulletin. 
We are just as much interested in knowing the cause why 
some have failed as to know of the success of others. 



VAL KEYSER, 

Superintendent Farmers' Institutes, University of Nebraska. 

E. C. BISHOP, 

State Superintendent Public Instruction. 
September 24, 1910. 




FIRST STEP IN SEE-SAW METHOD OF TYING UP 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



WHAT IS A GOOD EAR OF CORN? 

(By A. E. Nelson.) 

Corn is raised for one thing — profit. It may have its fine 
points, it may be interesting to study, the ear may be beau- 
tiful, the plant even more so. but when all is said and done 
the object of all corn production is profit. Seed corn and 
show corn is for exactly the same thing, and the best seed 
ear is the ear that is the most profitable for your locality. 

There are four things that naturally come to one's mind 
when looking at an ear or sample of corn for either the show 
room or the planter box. First, "Will it grow?" Second, 
"Will it yield?" Third, "Will it ripen?" Fourth. "Does it 
show improvement?" If the person who is selecting the corn 
can satisfy himself on these four points he is justified in 
retaining the ear or the bushel of corn for show or seed pur- 
poses. 

The yield of an ear of corn is estimated by its size, its 
weight, the size of the germs, the filling of the butts and tips 
of the ears, the furrows between the rows and the size and 
condition of the cob. An ear from most sections of Nebraska 
should not exceed nine and one-half inches in length, and 
seven inches in circumference, although the location of the 
field in the state would influence this size considerably; for 
instance, in the northern part of the state one would expect 
a much smaller ear than in the southeastern corner. 

It is well to select as large an ear as can thoroughly 
mature in your locality. However, one should never sacrifice 
maturity for size of ear. The depth of kernel will, to a large 
extent, determine whether or not an ear will mature in the 
section in which it is grown. The depth of kernel in most 
sections of the state should not exceed one-half inch; how- 
ever, here again the climatic condition and the location of the 
field in the state would be the determining factor. In select- 
ing corn with good butts and tips, bear in mind that it is 
not so necessary that the kernels extend over the ends of 
the ear, as that the corn should be of superior quality and 
uniform in size and shape, when compared with the kernels 
grown in the middle ear. Chaffy, starchy corn with tip caps 
that stick to the cob is always objectionable, both in the 
planter box and in the show room. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 




THE EVOLUTION OF CORN 



Very little can be told as to whether or not an ear will 
grow by looking at the outside. The only method that can 
give us any definite authority on the subject is the germina- 
tion box. Sappy or chaffy ears showing mold-spores or wrinkled 
backs on the kernels are always objectionable. 

One of the requirements of a good show sample is that 
it shows purity in the color of the cob and the grain. White 
corn should be free from yellow or red kernels, and should 
have a white cob. Yellow corn should be yellow throughout 
and have a red cob. Calico corn may have either a white or 
red cob but a mixed colored cob is preferred. The kernels 
should be of the same shape as well as of the same color, as 
irregular shaped kernels will not pass through the planter box 
and give an even drop. The rows should be straight as it 
shows a certain amount of selection and the kernels are usually 
more nearly the same size. The indentation or roughness of 
the ear depends on the variety. Late maturing corn is as a 
rule deeply indented. The earlier maturing corns such as flint, 
squaw, and pop corn are not indented. One should take great 
pains is selecting corn to see that the tips are not covered with 
fine, smooth, hard, flinty kernels, as this is a sign of deterior- 
ation, or running out of the corn. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION" 



METHODS OF SELECTING SEED IN THE FIELD. 

If the seed corn planted on our farms last spring had been 
harvested before the freezes of the previous fall, Nebraska 
would be richer today by many thousands of dollars. The 
corn contained moisture, the early frosts swelled the kernels, 
breaking down and destroying the germs. 

Corn should be selected from the field in the fall, for 
several good reasons. For instance one should know some- 
thing of the parentage of his seed. Xo farmer would think of 
buying an animal to head his dairy herd without inquiring in- 
to its ancestry. Besides many other important questions, he 
would ask whether or not the sire, dam, grand dam etc., of 
such an animal were of a good milking strain. The "Ear to 
Row Test" conducted by many of the boys and girls of 
Nebraska this past season is the best known method of 
studing the parentage of our corn. However, many of us 
were not so situated that we could carry out this experiment 
and must therefore select our seed from a general field. 

In selecting seed corn from the field we have an oppor- 
tunity to study the environment under which the corn was 
grown. There are many factors which contribute to, and take 
part in the production of an ear of corn. The physical con- 
dition of the soil, the fertility of the soil, amount of moisture 
present, kind of soil, that is clay, sand, sub-soil, etc., influence 
the stand and yield. 

The corn grower should select seed ears from stalks that 
are of medium height and foliage. It should be a standing- 
stalk with a good root system. The ear should hang at a 
medium height, have a rather short, medium sized shank, and 
droop at an angle of about sixty-five degrees. Such an ear is 
usually of medium maturity, is of the proper height to be 
husked with the least effort and hangs at such an angle that 
snow or water cannot enter beneath the husks. Ears that are 
born near the ground are usually early maturing ears. Ears 
that hang high on the stalk are objectionable as they are gen- 
erally late maturing, hard to husk and, because of their posi- 
tion break the stalk easily in a wind storm. As a rule ears born 
high on the stock point nearly straight up, allowing the snow 
and rain to enter beneath the shucks and decrease the vitality 
of the kernels. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



Corn that is thoroughly matured contains about ten and 
one-half per cent of water. In the fall of the year, at the time 
of our first killing frost, it contains a far greater quantity. Ex- 
periments have proven beyond a doubt that the harder and 
oftener corn is frozen, the greater is the decrease in vitality. 
Those who tested seed that remained in the snow and freezes 




SECOND STEP IN SEE-SAW METHOD 

of the winter of 1909-1910 are convinced of this fact without 
further argument. 

The majority of us wait until spring to select our seed. 
We then go to the crib, scoop the corn from side to side and 
select the largest and deepest kerneled ears. This is a mistake. 
If the facts were known, these large ears came from the low, 
fertile places in the field or where the stand was exceptionally 
thin and if planted on medium ground under average con- 
ditions they will not prove so efficient as the average sized 
ear raised under adverse conditions. Practically all the corn 
in the crib was husked after a severe frost. The ears selected 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



were frozen when put into the crib. During the warm fall and 
spring- days they thawed out, it turned cold and they froze 
again. They had no chance to dry out. Mold set in. It is 
reasonable to believe that corn selected and cared for in that 
way is not fit for seed. 



SEE-SAW STRING COMPLETED 

Another method often used, to which there are some ob- 
jections, is selecting the seed at the time the corn is unloaded. 
After the ear is once in the wagon one can tell nothing of the 
stalk that produced the ear or the location of that stalk in the 
field. As a great many farmers practice unloading after sup- 
per by lantern light, much corn is necessarily selected in the 
semi-dusk. The larger ears, many of which are sappy and 
immature are of course the ones that attract the selector's 
attention. When a man has husked corn all day he is tired, 
his sense of sight is somewhat dulled and he is, as a rule, in 
no mood or condition to select seed by lantern light. 

Some fasten a box along side of the wagon, others par- 
tition off a small space in the wagon. When a good ear is 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 




SEED CORN RACK FILLED 



found the intention is to put it in either the box or the space 
partitioned off. This is generally the result : We husk along' 
all day and forget to select seed. About dusk we see that we 
have only three seed ears selected. "Well," we say, "that 
wont do, I'll have to get that box full" and we throw every 
large ear into the seed box. Another thing, a farmer can 
hardly expect his help, hired to husk by the bushel, to stop, ex- 
amine each ear he husks and place the desirable seed ears in a 
small space partitioned off for that purpose or in a box along- 
side of the wagon. There wouldn't be much in it for the hired 
man. 

The last three methods mentioned above are all im- 
provements on the "Crib selection method," but the selecting 
is all done after the corn is frozen, and as a general thing with- 
out any definite knowledge of the stalk that produced the ear 
or the stalks surrounding it. 

The person who has lived in the State for a few years can 
almost invariably predict a killing frost a few days in advance. 
This varies considerably in different sections. All seed corn 
should be selected before a killing frost. This means we 



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AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 







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SHELVES FOR STORING CORN 



should go through the field and select our seed before husking 
time. Probably the easiest method it to tie a hitch-strap to 
the top and bottom, on the same side, of a gunny sack. Pass 
the strap over the right shoulder and allow the sack to hang 
under the left arm. This leaves both arms free. The farmer 
can now pass through his field and select ears conforming to 
his ideal. If he is especially particular, he can fasten an ear to 
his suspenders and use this ear as a sort of pattern to follow. 

Some men collect their seed in a common market basket 
carried on the arm. This method has the advantage of leaving 
the corn exposed, and enables one to select corn of a more uni- 
form type. 

Corn has been collected successfully and easily by making 
a hole in one side of a common grain sack near the top. The 
ear can be slipped through the hole, leaving the hand free. 
One can select about three-fourths bushel by this method 
before empting the sack. 

Where a large quantity of seed is to be selected it is better 
to make a seed corn sled. These sleds much resemble the old 
fashioned stone boats. Make a box about three feet wide, two 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



11 




PRIZE WINNERS IN FIRST (1906) COUNTY CORN SHOW IN PAWNEE COUNTY 



feet high and eight feet long. Fasten this to runners made by 
rounding off the ends of two half cedar posts or two railroad 
ties. Place two uprights in the center of the box one at each 
end. Let them protrude about four feet above the sides of 
the box. Stretch a strong piece of canvas between the up- 
rights. Fasten a single-tree to the runner and your sled is 
complete. It is advisable to place a wire muzzle on the horse 
to prevent it from tearing off the ears and breaking down the 
stalks. The sled can be drawn between the rows, thus making- 
no "down row." A man can select the best seed ears from ten 
rows on each side of the sled. The canvas is stretched over 
the center of the sled and acts as a sort of "bang-board" when 
the ears are thrown against it. One man can select about 
five bushels of good seed in eight hours by using either the 
sack or basket method. He should be able to double that 
amount when the seed corn sled is brought into use. 



12 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 




GOOD EXHIBIT OF UNIFORM EARS 



STORING SEED CORN. 

After the corn has been selected it should be stored care- 
fully and in such a place that it will dry out quickly but natur- 
ally. Many corn growers make a mistake by throwing their 
seed in some out of the way place where it cannot dry out 
thoroughly. I have seen corn stored in salt-barrels, vegetable 
cellars, boxes, potato caves, and other damp, unventilated 
places, and the next spring, the owners of the seed wondered 
why they had such a poor stand. 

Many of us are making a mistake by throwing our seed 
corn on top of the oats in the oat bin. The oats go through a 
certain process of "sweating" in which they give off consider- 
able moisture. This moisture is of course detrimental to the 
seed corn. Experiments have proven that in almost every 
case where corn was stored in the barn, hog house, hen house 
or near any of the farm animals, the vitality has been reduced. 
This is doubtless due to the moisture given off by the animals. 

Many of us practice piling or "ricking" our seed corn 
along the wall in a close room or bin. The ears are laid one on 
top of another, touching each other on three or four sides. It 
is impossible for corn piled in this way to dry out throughly 
without molding more or less. 

There are many dejirable ways of storing seed corn. 
Any method that will keep the ears from coming into direct 
contact with each other or some other object is good. There 
are so many ways this can be done that it hardly seems neces- 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



13 




INFERIOR AND IRREGULAR BUNCH OF CORN 



sary to give specific directions, however for the amateur a few 
suggestions may not come amiss. 

Experiment Stations have proven that one of the cheapest 
and best ways to store seed corn is by tying the ears together 
in lots of ten with a strong piece of binder-twine looped around 
the middle of each ear. (See illustration). This allows ample 
circulatioia of air and if the strings are tied to wires suspended 
between rafters, mice cannot get at it. 

Another excellent method, much faster than the one just 
described, is the "see-saw" method illustrated by the photo- 
graphs. The "seed corn tree" has been used very successfully 
and can be made at little expense. The two base boards are 
made of one by four inch lumber, are thirty-six inches long 
and are notched so that the edges of both boards touch the 
ground squarely. Any discarded pan slipped over the top of 
the post before the nails are driven, will prevent the mice from 
damaging the corn. The nails to hold the ears are ten-penny 
finishing nails. They should be driven at an upward slant of 
forty-five degrees. This will prevent the ears from falling off 
during the drying process. The upright is usually a seven 
foot, round cedar post. If the nails are arranged carefully a 
"seed corn tree" can be made to hold five bushels. 

AYire chicken netting strung between rafters has been 
used as a place to store seed corn with limited success. The 
ears which are pushed through the meshes in the wire often 
fall out during the drying process. 



14 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



Probably the best known place to store seed corn is over 
the drive way of a double corn crib. Here it is out of the way 
and has a free circulation of air. Another good place is a well 
ventilated attic. In selecting a place to store seed corn, one 
should always keep these two things in mind: First, seed 
corn, during the "drying out" process, requires a free circu- 
lation of air at a temperature above freezing. Second : It 
should be hung in such a way and place that mice, rats or 
other pests cannot get at it. 

"But," we say, "all the collecting and storing of seed corn, 
takes too much time." Did you ever stop to think that it takes 
but twelve medium sized seed ears to plant an acre of corn? 
That next year's crop largely depends on the selection and 
care of an armful, a good horse feed, of corn for each acre of 
corn you plant? It seems reasonable that if the law, "Like 
will produce like" is true there is no job on the farm that 
should receive so much care and attention as the selection of 
our seed corn each fall. 




A POOR WAY OF TYING UP TORN 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



15 




A PART OF PAWNEE COUNTY EXHIBIT (Feb. S-10, 1906) 



SELECTING A SAMPLE OF CORN FOR SHOW. 
Notice — 

Rule 1. All ten-ear exhibits having one or more ears 
with an off-colored cob, or having a total of more than twenty 
off-colored kernels on the ten ears, which in the estimation 
of the judge is due to a mixture of white and yellow types 
of corn, shall be disqualified — unless entered in classes for 
other than yellow or white varieties. 

Rule 2. Any ear entered in the single-ear class, which 
in the estimation of the judge shows a mixture of white and 
yellow varieties either in the kernels or in the cob, shall be 
disqualified — unless entered in a class for other than yellow or 
white varieties. 

A ten-ear show sample should be uniform throughout. 
The ears should be of the same roughness, shape, length, 
circumference, etc. The tips and butts should be equally well 
filled on all ears, and covered with kernels of the same size 
and shape. If ears are of the same circumference and have 
the same number of rows, the kernels will be of the same 
width. The germs should be of the same general size and 



16 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



shape. The ten ears should be of the same shade of yellow 
or white, and free from mixture in both the cob and kernels. 
The following score card will assist the amateur in select- 
ins: corn for the show room : 



Score Card. 



ADAPTABILITY 

Size of ears 

Ripeness , 

Filling of kernel 

UNIFORMITY 
Of Ears 

Size 

Shape 

Color 

Indentation , 

Of Kernels 

Size 

Shape 

SOUNDNESS AND VIABILITY 

Condition of Germ 

Condition of Hull 

Freedom from Injury 

Solidity of Ears and of Kernels 

on Cob 

SHAPE OF EARS 

COLOR OF COBS 

COLOR OF KERNELS 

SHAPE OF KERNELS 

BUTTS AND TIPS 



20 



30 



25 



EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
Adaptability: (20) Of great importance in selecting seed corn. 
Indicated in part by the following: 

(a) Size of Ear. (10) The following sizes are given as repre- 
sentative of each section. 

Eastern Section: Length, 9 l / 2 inches; circumference, 7 inches. 
Western Section: Length, 8 inches; circumference, 6 inches. 

(b) Ripeness: (5) An essential quality in corn. Indicated by 
solidity of kernels, rigidity of cob and firmness of kernels on cob. If 
immature, the kernels may contain some sap. Such kernels often 
loose their tip caps in shelling. 

(c) Filling of Kernels: (5) Kernels of medium roughness are 
considered best. The kernels with a chaffy crown "pinched dent" is 
indicative of late maturity. 

Uniformity: (30) Necessary in all exhibits. Hence the ears 
and kernels of the exhibit should possess uniform characteristics. 
For purposes of study, two kernels may be removed from one row 
in each ear between three and four inches from the butt. 

Soundness and Viability: (25) Of great importance. Seed that 
will not grow is worse than worthless. 

(a) Condition of Germ: (10) The germ should be bright and 
oily. A pale, shrunken, dull looking germ indicates poor vitality. A 
dark colored one indicates injury from frost or moisture or from 
both. 

(b) Condition of Hull: (5) Germination tests show that ker- 
nels with a blistered or wrinkled hull will either not grow or are of 
low vitality — the lack of vitality varying with the degree of blister. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 17 



(c) Freedom from Injury: (5) There should be no missing, 
mouldy, cracked, or otherwise injured kernels. (The two kernels 
removed for study, excepted.) 

(d) Solidity of Ears and of Kernels on Ears: (5) Ears should 
be firm. In many cases looseness of kernels and weakness of cob 
indicates poor vitality. 

Shape of Ears: (5) Varies with variety. In general the ears 
should be cylindrical or nearly so. A good rule is "circumference 
three-fourths the length." (The circumference measured at one-third 
the length of the ear from the butt.) 

Color of Cobs: (5) Grain free from evidence of mixing shows 
careful breeding. Cobs of uncertain tints suggest impure breeding. 

Color of Kernels: (5) The same rule holds as for color of cob. 

Shape of Kernels: (5) Kernels should narrow gradually from 
crown to tip, with straight edges that touch full length. The two 
sides of the kernel facing ends of the ear should be parallel. The 
shoe-peg type of kernel is objectionable. 

Butts and Tips: (5) The butt should be smoothly rounded over 
with straight rows of uniform kernels. The shank should not be too 
large, but should have sufficient size to support the ear. 

Tips should be covered well towards the end with straight rows 
of uniform kernels. Irregular, shallow or small kernels are more 
objectionable than tips somewhat exposed. Very tapering tips are 
objectionable. 



"TO THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT." 
Making the Entries. 

Where possible the white uniform tags should be used. 
These can be attached to the ears of corn with a rubber band. 
On the aprons and the dress goods the tag should be fastened 
with a pin. After the exhibits have been judged the con- 
testants' name, address, etc., should be filled in on the entry tag. 

Shipping to the State Show. 

After the show is over, the exhibits should be placed in 
strong boxes lined with screen. They should then be nailed 
up tightly and set away. In case the corn is too green to 
pack, hang each contestant's sample on a string suspended 
from a wire or some other place where it will be impossible 
for mice to reach it. Every precaution should be taken to 
protect the children's exhibits from mice, rats, water, etc. 



SELECTING POTATOES FOR THE CONTEST. 

(By Val Keyser) 

The first thing is to study the score card and become 
thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of the card. This 
score card was drawn up for the boys' contest work, it being 



18 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



necessary to have a standard by which the exhibitors and the 
judge can be guided. As soon as you are familiar with the 
essential points which compose a good exhibit, place the po- 
tatoes which have been chosen as worthy of consideration on 
a table before you, and carefully select the twelve best tubers 
which conform to the regulations of the score card. If two 
exhibits are equally good in all respects, except size, the 
larger potatoes will be given first place unless the judge 
should deem them too large. It has been found that medium- 
sized tubers of proper shape usually cook better and are more 
profitable for seed and for the market. This applies to early 
varieties rather than late. 



Score Card for Potatoes. 



Variety Name 



Uniformity of Exhibit.... 

Trueness of Type 

Shape of Tuber 

Size of Tuber 

Eyes 

Skin 

Texture of Tuber 

Soundness 

Freedom from Blemishes, 



Totals 

Contestants Name 



Value. 
20 

10 
15 
15 

5 

5 

5 

10 
15 

,\ 100 

Date 



Score. 


Score. 











































Explanation of Score Card. 

Uniformity of Exhibit — Select twelve potatoes that are uniform 
in size, shape, color, and which have uniformly well defined eyes of 
the same depth. 

Trueness to Type — Each potato should be typical of the variety 
to which it belongs, i. e., the characteristics should be clearly de- 
fined, enabling one to easily identify it. 

Shape of Tuber — The shape of the potato will depend largely 
upon variety, but the flat-round or oval shape is favored, because 
these shapes usually give best quality tubers. 

Size of Tuber — As a rule, select medium-sized potatoes, but if 
two exhibits are otherwise equal, choose the larger, unless potatoes 
are so large as to be considered overgrown. 

Eyes — The eyes of the potato should be medium deep, well de- 
fined and not too numerous. Deep eyes cause waste in peeling and 
have a tendency to affect shape of tuber. Eyes too shallow are low 
in vitality. 

Skin — The skin may be whitish, brown, redish, yellowish brown, 
blue or black, depending on variety. Tt may be thick or thin, tough 
or brittle. A thick, fairly tough skin is preferred, lenticels not too 
prominent, or potatoes sunburned. 

Texture of Tuber — This is determined by cutting tuber. A 
fairly fine grained, brittle texture is preferred. A tough texture does 
not cook up mealy and i^ usually poor in flavor. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 19 

Soundness — Select potatoes that are sound and firm, not wrinkled 
and flabby. Hollow potatoes are objectionable, likewise any internal 
discoloration indicating a diseased condition. The judge should cut 
two potatoes in each exhibit. 

Freedom from Blemishes — The judge will deduct from score for 
scab spots or skin ruptures from any other disease, cuts, bruises, 
scratches or any other defects. 

Definitions. 

A large potato is a potato larger than the average 
twelve year old boy's fist. 

A medium sized potato is a potato larger than an aver- 
age size hen's egg, but smaller than a twelve year old boy's fist. 

A small potato is a potato smaller than an average size 
hen's egg, but larger than an English walnut. 

A cull is a potato smaller than an English walnut and also 
scabby, badly sun burned, decayed or badly bruised. In fact, 
culls include all potatoes that are not fit for the market. 

Directions — Plow out each row of potatoes carefully 
and in such a way that the potatoes from one row will not 
become mixed with the potatoes from connecting rows. 
Gather all the potatoes including" the small and scabby ones. 
Collect the potatoes from the first row, which will be the one 
containing the products from the one-eighth potatoes planted 
in each hill. Weigh these potatoes and mark weights in the 
proper square under "B." Divide the potatoes into large, 
medium, small and cull lots. Weigh each lot and write the 
weights in the proper square under "C," "D," "E," and "F." 

To Find the Per Cent of Large Potatoes — Divide the 
number of pounds of large potatoes by the total weight of 
potatoes in the row, and insert the figure in the proper square 
under "G." 

To Find the Per Cent of Medium Potatoes — Divide total 
weight of medium potatoes by the total weight of potatoes 
in the row and insert the figure in the proper square under 
column "H." 

To Find the Per Cent of Small Potatoes — Divide the 
total weight of small potatoes by the total weight of potatoes 
in the row and insert in the proper square under "I." 

To Find the Per Cent of Culls — Divide the total weight 
of culls by the total weight of potatoes in the row and. insert 
in the proper square under "J." 



20 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 




POTATO FIELD IN NORTHWESTERN NEBRASKA 

To Find the Number of Bushels Per Acre — Divide the 

total number of pounds of potatoes raised on each row by 
100 (the number of hills in each row.) Multiply this num- 
ber by 8306 (the number of hills on an acre when planted 18 
inches apart in rows 3 feet 6 inches apart.) Divide this num- 
ber by 60 (the number of pounds in a bushel of potatoes.) 
The result will be the number of bushels per acre. 



SOME CORN DEFINITIONS AND DIRECTIONS FOR 
FINDING PER CENT OF STAND. 

A Sucker is a stalk without roots of its own. It is us- 
ually attached to another stalk below or very near the sur- 
face of the ground. Care should be taken not to confuse 
suckers and barren stalks. 

A Barren Stalk is a stalk without an ear on it. 

A Smutted Stalk is a stalk containing smut, a black, 
powdery substance, on any part of the stalk or ear. 

To Count the Stand — Begin at the first hill in the first 
row and count all the stalks in each hill in the row. Mark 
down the number of stalks in each hill. These correspond 
with the number of hills in the row. Tf a hill contains no stalks 
write 0; if it contains one stalk write 1, etc. After the first 
row is completed count the second row and so on until the 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 



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AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 




hills in each row are counted. 

To Find the Total Suckers — Count all the suckers in each 
row and write the number. 

To Find the Total Barren Stalks — Count all the barren 

stalks in each row and write the number. 

To Find the Total Smutted Stalks — Count all stalks af- 
fected by smut in each row and write the number. 

To find the Stalk Hills — Count from the record (each 
row) all the hills containing no stalks. 

To find the 1 Stalk Hills — Count from the record (each 
row) all the hills having one stalk. 

To find the 2 Stalk Hills — Count from the record (each 
row) all the hills having two stalks. 

To find the 3 Stalk Hills — Count from the record (each 
row) all the hills having three stalks. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 23 

To Find the Total Stalks in Row— Multiply the 3 stalk 
hills in each row by 3, and the 2 stalk hills in each row by 2. 
Add the products obtained by this multiplication and the 
number of hills having 1 stalk in each row. The number ob- 
tained from this addition will give the total stalks in the row. 

To Find Per Cent Suckers — Divide the total number of 
suckers in each row by the total number of stalks in the 
same row. 

To Find Per Cent Barren Stalks — Divide the total num- 
ber of barren stalks in each row by the total number of stalks 
in the same row. 

To Find the Per Cent Smutted Stalks — Divide the total 
number of smutted stalks in each row by the total number of 
stalks in the same row. 

To Find Per Cent Stand — Divide the total stalks in each 
row bv the number there should be. 



TO THOSE ENTERED IN THE EAR TO ROW TEST. 

It is now fall. You have noted the difference in growth 
between the ten ears of corn planted last spring. You have 
seen how that one ear produced ears high on the stalk, while 
another produced the ear close to the ground. You have 
noticed considerable difference in the per cent of barren stalks, 
suckers, smutted stalks, per cent stand, etc., produced on each 
row. Now we have come to the most interesting and impor- 
tant step in our whole season's work ; we will find out which 
ear vielded the most corn of the best quality. This can only be 
done by following the instructions closely and paying minute 
attention to the definitions of seed ear, marketable ear, nubbin 
and worthless ear. The equipment you will need is a husking 
peg, a pair of reliable scales and a basket or box in which to 
weigh the corn from each row. When you enter the total 
weight of corn on the report card, be sure you subtract each 
time the weight of the box, basket or sack in which the corn 
is weighed. If this is not done, your results will not be 
correct. 

Be sure to husk all the ears in the row, whether large, 
small or worthless. If an ear is found lying between two 
rows, look around and see what row the stalk it came from is 



24 AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 

in. Then put it back in the proper row so that you will not 
get it mixed with corn from another row. 

Instructions — Definitions. 

1. Seed Ear: An ear of corn showing the requirements 
of a good seed ear. 

2. Marketable Ear : An ear not good enough for seed 
but well matured, round and in such condition that it will sell 
well on the market. 

3. Nubbin : A short, stunted ear, less than five inches 
long or an ear having kernels on but one side. 

4. Worthless Ear: An ear with but few kernels on the 
cob, one that is moldy, rotten or in some other way useless 
as feed. 

Directions. 

Do not weigh closer than one-fourth pound. 

1. Total Weight of Pounds of Corn on Row: Found by 
husking every ear on the row, whether good or not, and weigh- 
ing on a reliable scale. 

2. Weight of Seed Ears: Found by sorting out and 
weighing all the nubbins on the row. 

3. Weight of Marketable Ears: Found by sorting out 
and weighing all the marketable ears on the row. 

4. Weight of Nubbins: Found by sorting out and 
weighing all the nubbins found on the row. 

5. Weight of Worthless Ears : Found by sorting out and 
weighing all the worthless ears on the row. 

6. Per Cent of Seed Ears : Found by dividing the 
weight of seed ears by the total number of pounds of corn on 
the row. 

7. Per Cent of Marketable Ears : Found by dividing the 
weight of marketable ears by the total number of pounds of 
C( irn on row. 

8. Per Cent of Nubbins: Found by dividing the weight 
oi nubbins by the total number of pounds of corn on the row. 



AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 25 

9. Per Cent of Worthless Ears: Found by dividing the 
weight of the worthless ears by the number of pounds of corn 
on the row. 

10. Number of bushels per acre: This is the most im- 
portant point of all. Found by dividing the number of pounds 
of corn on the row by 100 the number of hills in the row. The 
answer will be the number of pounds corn on one hill. Mul- 
tiply this number by 3556, (the number of hills on an acre 
when planted 3 feet 6 inches each way.) The answer will be 
the number of pounds of corn produced on 3556 hills or one 
acre. Divide this number by 75, the number of pounds in a 
bushel at this time of year. The result is the number of 
bushels per acre. 

Note: The contestant will find it advisable to reduce 
all fractions to decimals when figuring percentage. Do not 
carry any problems out farther than one place to the right 
hand side of the decimal point. 



FIRST ANNUAL NEBRASKA CORN HUSKING 
CONTEST. 

Nebraska Boys' and Girls' Club. 

(Rules and Regulations.) 

1. Any person under twenty-one years of age is eligible 
to this contest. 

2. He must husk eight hours in the same day, four hours 
in the forenoon and four in the afternoon. 

3. He must stop one hour at noon. 

4. He must use the same team the entire day. 

5. He may have no person, other than himself, drive or 
lead the team attached to the wagon in which he is husking. 

6. He shall use a common farm wagon. 

7. He may husk in any field he sees fit, whether his own 
or some other. 

8. He may use any make of husking-peg, hook or other 
device attachable to the hand or wrist. 



26 



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AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 27 

9. He may use gloves, cloth mittens or any other pro- 
tection to his hands he wishes. 

10. He must husk all ears more than three inches long- 
as he goes along, whether on the ground or attached to the 
stalks. 

11. Practically all husks must be removed from the ears 
before thrown into the wagon. Not more than one husk to 
three ears will be allowed. 

12. He may use no endgate more effective than the or- 
dinary "Boss" endgate. 

13. He must unload his load of corn without the assist- 
ance of another person. 

14. He must unload his corn with a scoop-shovel. 

15. He must have his loads unloaded before the ex- 
piration of the eight hours mentioned in (2). 

16. The affidavit as indicated, must be filled out and sent 
to the county superintendent, who will forward the same to 
the state superintendent. 



AFFIDAVIT. 

(To be filled in before a Notary Public.) 
I residing in 

the County of and the State 

of being first duly sworn, depose 

and say. that I did on the day of 

19 husk pounds, making bushels 

of corn according to the Rules and Regulations printed on 
page 25 of this bulletin. 



Age of contestant years. Address of contestant : 

Town County 

State of Nebraska, "J 

V ss. 

County ) 

On this day of 19- 

before me, a for and residing in said 



28 AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION 

County came , 

who is personally known to me to be the identical person 
whose name is affixed to the foregoing Affidavit. 

Witness my hand and seal at 

on the date last above mentioned. 



CERTIFICATE OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT. 

I County Superintendent 

of Public Instruction of 

County Nebraska, certify that to the 

extent of my knowledge and belief the accompanying report 

of , a contestant 

in the Nebraska corn husking contest is true and correct in 
every particular. 



County Superintendent. 
Date , 1910. 




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